In Over His Head

Gave in to his gnawing craving and kissed her?

He didn't know, but by damn, he was determined to find out.

Right now.

Chapter 4

Lexie stood frozen in place, heart pounding, the rough concrete of the pool apron abrading her shoulders, her mind a blank except for the mantra pumping through it. He's going to kiss me. He's going to kiss me.

She'd thought about little else during their lesson. She'd watched him as he'd floated, his eyes closed, staring at his sexy mouth form words about his home. Imagining that sexy mouth on hers.

Bracing his hands against the edge on either side of her, he bracketed her between his strong arms. His gaze slid from her eyes down to her mouth, and he leaned slowly forward. A brushfire of heat sizzled through her.

His lips brushed softly over hers, once, twice, with a teasing gentleness that immediately made her want more. Parting her lips, she touched her tongue to his bottom lip. And in a heartbeat the kiss changed from gentle to Oh. My. God.

With a low groan, he stepped closer. His arms came around her, his mouth covered hers. She was completely surrounded by him. By the delicious feel of his body pressing against hers. The warmth emanating from his wet skin. His large hands combing through her hair then skimming slowly down her back. The exquisite sensation of his tongue exploring her mouth.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she indulged herself in the onslaught of sensations assaulting her. Everything faded except the need to feel more of him. Taste more him. Touch more of him. She ran her palms up his back, reveling in the contrast of textures of smooth, firm skin over hard muscle. Desire, hot and insistent and for so long forgotten, gushed through her, turning her insides to syrup. His hands slipped down to the small of her back and puller her closer. His erection pressed against her belly, inspiring a dizzying myriad of sensual images of him, and her, together.

A shriek of feminine laughter broke through the fog of arousal engulfing her. Clearly Josh heard it, too, because he lifted his head. A long mental noooooo of protest echoed in Lexie's lust-frazzled brain at the abrupt end to their kiss, and she forced her eyes open. Josh stared at her with an expression that seemed to simultaneously say 'I want more' and 'What the hell just happened?' The perfect mirror of her own thoughts.

Another burst of giggles sounded and Lexie turned toward the noise. A young couple emerged from the pathway leading from the beach. Arms entwined, laughing, they skirted the perimeter of the pool, so wrapped up in each other they never even noticed Lexie and Josh.

Pulling in a much-needed deep breath, Lexie returned her attention to Josh and found him still studying her with enough simmering heat to melt a polar ice cap, heat made all the more intense by the fact that their bodies still touched from chest to knee.

The need to say something, to break the tension-fraught silence, pushed at her, but unfortunately the only words that came immediately to mind were 'Wanna get naked, cowboy?' Since that seemed somewhat lacking in finesse, she remained silent.

Finally he spoke. 'That was some kiss.'

She swallowed to locate her voice. 'Can't argue with you on that.'

The dimple in his cheek flashed. 'Now that's a trait I really like in a woman.'

'Being a good kisser?'

'Well, yeah, but I meant not arguing with me. And besides, you're not a good kisser.'

'Oh?' She deliberately shifted her gaze down to where his erection still pressed against her, then looked back up at him with raised brows. 'This…' she drawled, giving him a gentle nudge with her pelvis, 'tells me differently.'

'It sure does. It means you're an incredible kisser.'

His words, delivered in that aroused-husky voice, combined with the desire so obvious in his eyes, was like a balm to her bruised feminine ego. His gaze slid down to her mouth, making it clear he intended to kiss her again. Her heart stuttered at the thought, but common sense prevailed and she laid her hands on his chest.

'Not a good idea, Josh.'

He stilled, his gaze questioning. 'Because…?'

'While there's no sense in pretending that that kiss wasn't mind-blowing, this isn't an appropriate place, especially for me.' She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. 'The resort sort of frowns on its employees engaging in passionate exchanges in the pool.'

'That's understandable. Disappointing, but understandable.'

Resuming her normal voice, she said, 'You're paying me for swimming lessons. Let's keep it to just that while we're in the pool.'

He nodded slowly. 'All right. But what about once we're out of the pool?'

A quick war waged inside her-the part that wanted to remain in her safe cave versus the woman that wanted, needed, to break free. Break-free woman won, hands down. 'Why don't we get dressed, then meet in the hotel bar? We can have a drink and some conversation and… see what happens.'

His gaze remained steady on hers, and she could almost hear him reflecting her own thought. I think we both know what's going to happen.

'All right,' he said.

'Great.' He didn't move, and after a few seconds she said, 'If you'll just back up, I'll-'

'I can't do that.'

'Sure you can.'

'No, I can't.'

'Why not?'

'Because you're standing on my foot.'

She looked down and, sure enough, the underwater lights showed that she was indeed standing on his foot. Good grief, he even had good-looking feet. Good-looking, big feet. Darla's smirk rose in her mind's eye. You know what they say about men with big feet, Lexie.

Yup, she knew. And the impressive size of his erection pressing against her left no doubt that the saying was true in Josh's case. The mere thought fired up a sizzle of lust that all but crispy-fried her synapses. Definitely time to get out of the water before she did something in a public place that could lead to an arrest.

She slid her foot from his, then waded purposefully toward the steps. Exiting the warm water, she wrapped her towel around her body, feeling the need to put something between her and this unsettling man who had all but turned her into one big, pulsating hormone. Jeez, her reaction to him bordered on embarrassing. Surely she'd be able to remain more focused, be more able to think and to carry on a conversation, once they were both dressed and there was a table, a couple of beer mugs, and maybe an order of wings between them.

When she turned around, she noted with relief that he'd exited the pool and slipped on his T-shirt. Grabbing up her things, she said, 'I'll head over to the employees' locker room to change. See you in the bar in thirty minutes?'

'Wouldn't miss it.' His dimple winked at her, and she had to force herself not to lick her lips. Lips that still tingled from the feel of his. But there was no stopping the yum, yum that wafted through her mind.

* * *

Sitting in a corner booth, Josh watched Lexie walk into the bar and every one of his nerve endings jumped like a bronc coming out of the chute. She wore a black tank top, a full, fire-engine-red skirt whose hem skimmed her toned legs at mid-thigh, and low-heeled black sandals. Her shiny dark hair curled around her head like a halo. She looked fresh, clean and damn near good enough to eat. And God knows he'd been ready to devour her in the pool. The instant she'd touched her tongue to his lip, she'd set him off like a bottle rocket. He couldn't recall the last time